Telegraph apparatus



III-H1613, 1944. J w LONG TELEGRAPH APPARATUS Filed June 13, 1942 INVENTOR J W LONG ATTOR N EY Patented June 13, 1944 umrco STATES PATENT or fice TELEGRAPH APPARATUS James W. Long, Plainfield, N. 3., assignor to The I Western Union'lelegraph Company,New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Aipplication June is, 1942, Serial No.- 446391); 9 Claims; ,(c 118-531) The present invention relates primarily'to :tele-; graph apparatus and more particularly to apparatus for controlling the rotationof a rotatable-distributor member such as is usually employed in simplex or start-stop telegraph record,- ing mechanisms.

In simplex telegraph mechanisms and particularly receiving mechanisms a rotatable distributor member, which in a normal position is at rest, is initiated into rotation at the 136-. ginning of each code group of impulses andvis stopped at the end of each group. Heretofore various arrangements such as yieldable gates and latches and stops actuated directly by the. selector magnet have been employedto initiate andarrest the rotation of the rotatable dise tributor member. However, these arrangements have numerous disadvantages, some'of which are that they impose a load on theselectorlmagnet and/or include a large number of parts inzwhich there is likely to be excessive lost motion and in which the release of the rotatable member may not be uniform in all cycles of operation.

Accordingly, it is one of the primary objects of the present invention to providea novel and improved arrangement for releasing the rotatable distributor member that may be employed in' receiving telegraph mechanism which: has none' of the disadvantages of. previously. proposed arrangements.

Another object of the invention is toprovide a non-yieldable stop member for the. rotatable distributor member and one in which. the power for. operating the stop member to a releasing position is furnished by the rotatable member during the previous cycleof operation. Such arr-arrangementeliminates any excessive load on the selector magnet and enablesthe release-of the rotatable member to occur uniformly in each cycle of operation.

Another object of the present invention iscto provide a mechanism of the above type which permits-orientation whereby compensation may begmadegfor the variable lengthror effectiveness of the start impulses of'the code groups of. impulses so that the selector cams on-the rotatable distributor member are effective onassociated selectively positionable elements zduring thezmid portion or-most effective portionof their respective 'signaling impulses.

The above and further object of the: inven-i tion-will be more apparent when taken :in Zoom: junction with the following detailed. descrip tiontan'dthe.accompanyingdrawing. The drawingiis faniexplod'edr perspective wiew:

of; the 1 elements comprising-the :present" invention, showing the cooperation. thereof with 'the principal elements included ina. selector mechanism 4 Telegraph selector mechanisms of the type'with which the present invention is particularly adapted to cooperateincludeia'setof selectors which arezpositioned into one or the other of two positions in accordance? with; received :code impulses and are knownias start-stop typepof se lectors. The selectors are 'equal in? number to the: number-of intelligence impulses in each code group, and each code group is preceded by a .startimpulse of onefiline condition and followed phy a-rest impulse of an opposite .line condition. Usually "the start-stop. signals are open and closed lineconditions.- with the start impulse an, open line condition and the 'rest impulse a' closed line condition; the intelligence impulses being" permutations (of .both open and closed lineconditions. Although openand closed line conditions are normally employed in startstop signals polar signals may'be employed.

The invention is shown and hereinafter described as oooperatingwith a selector mechanism of the type disclosedin a copending, application of R. F.-Dirkeset al;, filed October 31, 1938, Serial -No. 318,021, but it should be kept inmin thatthe invention is not limited ;to this particular' type of start-stop selector mechanism but may ;readi1y be adapted gtOf cooperate with various. other" types of selector mechanisms;

The above-mentioned; selector mechanism in! cludes the selector magnet l i which; in response to the open line condition-start; impulse in a manner hereinaftendescribed releases for rotationa rotatable distributonmember or shaft 12. The shaft l2' .is rnormally at rest and-tends to rotate by powercommunicated thereto through a friction-clutch I3 froma: constantly rotating shaft l 4 driven at the desired speed iroma suitable sour e (of, powe Km show c as an electric motonm i 1 Thesshaft l12-hasi :fiXed-theretofor rotation the ewi h a s t: of notched selector. cams- I s,- eqi al in-number to the-"intelli nce. imp l of each. nod group; with 1 the; notches: arranged in a spiral progression: :Onlyatwo of the cams 16 are shown, and associated therewith are selector latches ll, onerindividual to;- ea'ch'of the selector cams. Gamzfollowing projections; adjacent the center. offithe'selector latchesil l are inoperative relation .withitheaperipheries of: their associated cams,=:heihg' held '-:in engagement ther'ewith by associated individual l springs 19: J

The selector latches I! have adjacent their right hand ends bifurcations 2| which engage a pin 22. The latches I! normally latch associated selectors such as 23 in their normal unselected position, and the latches are selectively operated in accordance with the character of their respective signaling impulses to unlatch or retain in a latched positionv their associated .selectors.

The right hand-ends of the latches are, in operative relation with a short horizontal portion 24 on the depending section of the armature lever pivot pin 21, with the left hand end thereof in operative relation with the polepiecesgof the selector magnet II. A springig28 normallyten'ds wise direction to a retracted position, and in its retracted position the horizontal portion-24 there-' wardly extending arm 42 and a leftwardly extending arm 43. A comparatively strong spring 44 anchored in the bracket 38 is attached to the end of the arm 43 and tends to pivot the trip arm in a clockwise direction. A shoulder 46 on the depending arm of a latch lever 41 pivoted on a shoulder screw 48 in the bracket 38 normally latches the trip arm in its normal position, A spring 49 biases the latch lever 4l so that the shoulder 46 thereon is in a latching or block- Q ing position relative to the trip arm 4|. 26 pivotally mounted adjacent its center on a" "The latch lever 41 is 50 located that the upper rounded e'n'd 5| thereof is opposite the end of or Y in line with the axis of the shaft l2. Adapted to to pivot the armature lever'26 in a counterclockcooperate with the rounded end 5| of the latch v lever 41 is the lower end of a depending arm 52 of a bell crank 53 pivotally mounted on a shoulder screw 54 supported in a section 56 comprisof is out of the path of movement of the right hand end of the selector latches l1, whereas in an energizedposition' the section 24 is po'sitioned beneath andv inithe path of movement of the right hand. e'ndsof'the' selector la'tches. .Thus,

the position of the armature lever 26 at the -time a'notch in a selector cam l6 rotates into operative relationwith the cam following projection 18 on theassociated latch l ldetermines whether the: greater pivoting-movement of the latch is about its left or right handend; When a selector latch pivots about its left hand end on the pin 22, it remains in latching engagement with its associated selector 23, whereas inpivoting aboutits right hand end the associated selector is unlatched and permitted, by means not-.shown, to move to a selected position. The u-nlatchedof the selectors 23 are subsequently employed to control an' associated r'ecordin'g 'mechanism in the usual manner, following which they' are returned into latching engagement-with-their associated selector" latches H. The manner in which the selectors 23 are employed to control a recording mechanism and-the relatching thereof is fully described in the above-mentioned copending application. I 5 1i I The present invention haste o with the release of the shaft |2 at the beginningof each code group of signals and thestopping thereof at the end of a code-group 'and,-inv addition," the arrangement for effecting orientation or the ad justmen't effected whereby thenotches in the selector cam l6 are effective on the camfollow ing projections I 8 'of their associated latches during the mid-portion or most effective portionof their respective signaling'impulses; I The orienta-' tion compensates for the line and other conditions which are variable andiwhich-afiectthe length and effectiveness of thestart iinpulse.

Secured to the left hand-end of'the distribu tor shaft l2, as-shown in-the drawing, is a stop arm 29 which normally engages a projection 3| at the upper end of a lock arm 32,'and'thus the shaft' l 2 is normally held in-itsrestor 'stoppos'ition. The lock arm 32 is pivotally mountedat' its lower end-on-a shoulder screw 33 extending from the outside-face"of 'a so called range Plate 34. A spring 36- attached toa pin 31extending fromthelock arm 32 normally tends to pivot the lock arm :in a counterclockwise *direction and biases the same to its normal position where the projection 3| is in. engagement -'with or in the path of the'stoparm: 29.1 Theopposite end of the spring 36 is 1 anchored 'in'larbracket' 38 securedJWscrews 39. to-thei range plate-34. v Also pivoted on the shouldenscrew 33. is:a"trip arm 4| in theform ofa -bell .crankswithian uping apart of the frame. The bell crank 53 also has a horizontal arm 51, the end of which extends beneath the section of the armature lever 26 inoperative relation with the pole pieces of the selector magnet II. V

As hereinbefore stated, the normal condition of the line is closed, .and accordingly the selector magnet H is energized to hold the armature lever 26 in its energized position. In'receipt of the open line start impulse preceding each code group of impulses, the magnet H is rendered deenergized, whereupon the spring 28 is effective to pivot the armature lever 26 in a counterclockwise direction to a retracted position. This pivoting of the armature lever 26 causes the left hand end thereof to engage the endof the-arm 51 of the bell crank 53 to pivot the bell crank in'a clockwise direction, as shown in the draw ing. Such pivoting of the bell-crank 53 moves the lower end of the depending arm52' leftwardly and into engagement with the rounded end5| of the latch lever 41, causing the same topivot in a counterclockwise direction'against the action of its attached retractile spring 49 and moves the shoulder 46 thereon out 'of'e'ngagement with the horizontal arm 43 of the bell crank 4|. This movement of the latch lever 4'! permits the comparatively strong retractilespr'ing 44 attached to'the trip arm 4| topivot; the same in a clockwise direction; whereupon theupwardly extending arm. 42 thereof strikes the pin 31 extending from the lock arm 32 a sharp-blow and causes the said lock arm to pivot in a clockwise direction with the trip arm 4| 7 7 The pivoting of the lockarm 32 moves'the pro jection 3| at the upper end thereof out of engagementwith the end of the stop arm 29,-'whereupon the stop arm,-the shaft I2, and the" selector cam l6 secured thereto are free to rotate with the shaft |4 through the 'action'of theffriction clutch 3. Thus, the distributor memb'enor the shaft l2 and cams l6 are released forrotation at the beginning of each. code group ofimpulses, and as the load imposed onthe selectively operated armature lever 26"to effect release of the; distributor memberis comparatively light, the release of the distributor member is effected uniformly in each cycle of operation. The strength arm 32 also assistsa inovercoming the'retractile effect of? the1spring:36.on the lock arm32. J

During the rotation-of the selector shaft l2, the notches in the selectorcams l6 are sequentially effective on their associated selector latches IT, in timed relation with the receipt of the selecting impulses, to effect selective positioning of the associated selectors 23. Following. the receipt of the last selecting impulse, .the closed line rest impulse is effective on the selector magnet II to energize the same, and during the latter "part of a revolution of the shaft i2 a reset cam 58 fixed to the shaft engages and causes a reset lever 59 in operative relation with-the cam to pivot in a clockwise direction. The reset lever 59 is pivotally mounted adjacent its center ona shoulder screw 6! carried in the range plate 34, and the above pivotingof: the .reset lever 59 causes the lower end to engage a pin 62 extending from the arm 42 of the trip arm 4| and pivot the said trip arm in a counterclockwise direction. This pivoting of the trip arm 4| moves the horizontal arm 43 thereof in a downward direction and, when moved sufficiently, the spring 49 pivots the latch lever 41 to place the shoulder 45 above the arm 43, as at this time the rest impulse is effective on the selector-magnet H to permit the said latch arm 41 to return to its normal latching position. Accordingly, when the reset cam 58 subsequently passes out .of operative. relation withthe reset lever 59, the trip arm pivots a slight amount in a clockwise direction to engage the upper side of the arm 43 thereof with the shoulder 46 to latch-the same in its normal position. The pivoting of the trip arm 4| in a counterclockwise direction permits the spring 36 to pivot the lock arm 32 in a similar direction, which places the projection .3I thereof in the path of the stop arm 29 justbefore the stop arm completes a revolution, and thus the stop arm with its attached elements is stopped in its normal rest position.

From the above arrangement it isobvious that power stored in thespring 44 during a previous cycle of operation or during the previous rotation of the shaft l2, and principally during the latter part of a revolution thereof, is effective to operate the lock arm 32 to release the stop arm 29 at the beginning of a subsequent cycle of operation. Thus, the major part of the load imposed upon the shaft l2 by the resetting of the lock. arm 32 to a locking position occurs after the distributing operation of the shaft I2, and any slight slippage of the friction clutch l3 driving the same occurring during the resetting of the lock arm does not adversely afiectthe operation of the selector mechanism as it would if the slipping occurred during the initial part of the rotation of the'distributor shaft l2. Thus, no load is imposedupon the distributor shaft at the beginning of the revolution thereof to effect initiation of its rotation, as is the case where a yieldable stop is employed. Another advantage of the present arrangement is the trip arm M in moving to its operated position, in which position it remains forthe major portion of a cycle of operation of theshaft l2, prevents the latch i'l from returning to its normal latching position, and hence the armature lever 26 in moving from an energized to a retracted position during the rotation of .the shaft I2 does not have to overcome the effect of the spring 49. attached to the latch 41. Abifurcatedbracket 65 secured to the range plate 3.4" straddles the upper end of thelock arm '32 to limit the movement thereof, the bracket being;v adjustable for obvious reasons. i. w

In order-to compensate for variable length start impulses or so that the, notches in theselector cams I61 be effectiveon their associated latches ll duringythe midwportion or most-effective portion of respective signaling impulses, the rest or stop position or the selectorshaft 'l2is changed. By-this arrangement-theselector shaft 12' has to make different amountsyof rotation from a stop position tobring the nctches ;-into operative relation, with the latches; The above arrangement is usually referredwto as orienting the selector mechanism, and in the, present invention it is accomplished.by movingthe range plate 34; The range plate 34is pivotally mounted concentrically withthe shaft I! on a bracket member 63 comprising part of :the, frame structure; A clamp! ing member 64 mounted on an extension of the bracket 63 is adapted to clamp the range plate against the said extension when a thumb nut 66 is tightened. By loosening the thumb nut the range plate 34 andqall the elements mounted thereon are pivotable about the shaft 12, andsuch pivoting of the range plate changes the stop position of the shaft. A stepped member 61 attached to the upper left hand corner of the range plate loosely holds the'samewto the vertical section of the bracket 63, and a handle 68 extending from the range plate permits adjustment thereof'when taking a range on the printer. As the rounded end 5! of the latch'lever 41 isopposite' the end of the shaft l2, thesame remains in operative relation with the 'lower end of the depending arm of the bell crank 53 for any adjusted position of-the range plate. Hericegfor any adjustedposition thereof the bell crank 53 is effective to operate the latch lever 5|.

It is obvious, of course, that various modifications of the apparatus shown in the drawing and described herein may be made without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and it is desired, therefore, that only such limitations be placed thereon as are imposed by the prior art or are-specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a telegraph machine, a frictlonally driven rotatable distributor member normallytending to rotate, a stop arm rotatable with said member, a lock arm normally locking said stop arm to thereby hold said distributor member at rest, a signal responsive means, a resilient member, an inertia member operated bysaid resilient member and engageable with said lock arm to operate the same, said inertia member-having a period of freernovement before engagement with said lock arm, means controlled by said signal responsive means and including said-resilient member and the inertia attained by said inertia member during said free movement period to operate said lock arm to unlock said stop arm and thereby permit rotation of said rotatable member and means operative during the rotation of said rotatable member to store energy in said resilient member to operateisaid inertia member to unlock said stop arm as controlled by-saidsignal responsive device to initiate .a subsequent revolution of said rotatable distributor member.

2. In a telegraph machine, a frictionally driven rotatable distributor member normally tending to rotate, a stop arm rotatable with said'mem'ber, a lock' arm normally locking said stop arm to therebyhold said distributor member at rest, a signal responsive means, a trip arm, a resilient means tending-to operate saiditrip arm, said trip arm having 'aninertia a-ttalning'movement' and arranged to thereafter-directly operate said lock arm partly by the attained inertia thereof to releasesaid stop arm to permit rotation of said distributor member, a latch normally latching said trip arm in a normal position, means controlled by said signal responsive means for operating said latch whereupon said trip arm operates said lock arm to release said stop arm and thereby initiate rotation of said rotatable distributor member and means operated by said rotatable member during the rotation thereof to relatch said trip arm in said normal position.

3. In a telegraph receiver selectively controlled by received signal groups, a signal responsive device, a frictionally driven rotatable member normally tending to rotateandrhaving a stop arm rotatable therewith, a non-yieldable stop member normally engaged with said stop arm to hold said rotatable member at rest in a normal stop position, a first resilient means holding said stop member in said normal position, a trip arm for operating said stop member to a releasing position, a second resilient means for operating said trip arm, a latch for holding said trip arm in a normal position, means controlled by said signal responsive device for operating said latch whereupon said second resilient means operates said trip arm to move said non-yieldable stop member against the action of 'said first resilient means out of engagement with said stop arm to initiate rotation of said rotatable member.

4. In a telegraph receiver selectively controlled by received signal groups, a signal responsive device, a frictionally driven rotatable member normally tending to rotate and having a stop arm rotatable therewith, a non-yieldable stop member normally-engaged with said stop arm to hold said rotatable member at rest in a normal stop position, a first resilient means holding said stop member in said normal position, a trip arm for operating said stop member to a releasing position, a second resilient means for operating said trip arm, a latch for holding said trip arm in a normal position, means controlled by said signal responsive device for operating said latch whereupon said second resilient means operates said trip arm to move said nonyieldable stop, member againstthe action of said first resilient means 7 out of engagement with said stop arm to initiate rotation of said rotatable member, means operative during the rotation of said rotatable member to return said trip arm to said normal latched position against the action of said second resilientmeans and means; includingsaid first resilient'means for returning said stop member to:

said normal positionduring the returnrto nor-.

, mal position of said trip-arm. i

5. In a telegraph receiver selectively controlled by received signal groups, a signal responsive device, a frictionally drivenrotatable member normally tending to rotate ,and having, a stop arm rotatable therewith, a non-yieldable stop member normally engaged with said stop arm to hold said rotatable memberatgrest in a normal stop position, a first resilient means :holding said stop member in said-normaL position, a trip arm for operating said stopmemberito a releasing position a second 'resilientmeans for operating said triparm, alatch forqholdingisaid:trip arm in a normal position, means controlled by said signal responsive device. for. operatingsaidlatch whereupon said second resilient means operates said trip arm to move said non-yieldablestop member against the action of said first resilient means out of engagemeiitgwith said top arm to initie ate'rot'ation of said rotatable member, means operative during the rotation of said rotatable member to return said trip arm to said normal latched position against the action of said second resilient means, means including said first resilient means for returning said stop member to said normal position during the return to normal position of said trip arm, and means including said trip arm for holding said latch in an operated position until the return of said trip arm to said normal position;

6. In a telegraph receiver selectively controlled by received signal groups, a signal responsive device, a frictionally driven rotatable member normally tending to rotate and having a stop arm rotatable therewith, a non-yieldable stop member normally engaged with said stop arm to hold said rotatable member at rest in a normal stop position, a first resilient means holding said stop member in said normal position, a trip arm for operating said stop member to a releasing position, a second resilient means for operating said trip arm, said trip arm having a one-way losting position against the action of said first resil- I ient means and means including the inertia of said trip arm in taking up the lost motion of the connection between the same and'said stop member to assist in operating said stop member to a stop arm releasingzposition.

7. In combination, a'telegraph selector mech-' anism including a signal responsive device, a rotatable member normally tending to rotate and a set of elements selectively operated by said rotatable member under the control of said signal responsive device, a stop arm rotatable with said rotatable member, a non-yieldable stop member engageable with saidstop arm to hold said rotatable member at rest in a normal stop position, a resilient means, an inertia member operable by said resilient means asv controlled by said signal responsive device, said inertia member being adapted to engage and move said stop member out of engagement with said stop arm to initiate rotation of said rotatable member, said inertia member having, an inertia attaining movement prior to engagement with said stop arm whereby said attained inertia assists in the moving of said stopgarm, means for changing the position of said stop member to stop said rotatable member in different angular positions relative to said selectively operatedelements and means for controlling said stop member from said signal responsive device for any adjusted position thereof. V

8. In combination, a telegraph selector mech-; anism including a signal responsive device,.a.rotatable member normally tending to rotate and a set of elements selectively operated by. said. roe tatable member under the :control of said signal responsive device, means for initiating .said rotatable member into rotation. and stopping .the same after a revolution thereof, said means including a stop arm on said rotatable member and a; non-yieldable stop normally engaged therewith, operating means for said non-yieldable stop having atresilient memberand a oneway lost motion connectionwith said stop, means including -the inertiaof said operating means in taking up the lost motion oi said connection to operate said stop to release said stop arm, means including said signal responsive device for controlling said last-mentioned operating means, means for changing the position of said nonyieldable stop to stop said rotatable member in different angular positions relative to said selectively operated elements, and means operative during one revolution of said rotatable member to condition said non-yieldable stop operating means for operation to release said rotatable member for a subsequent revolution as controlled by said signal responsive device.

resilient member in looking relation with said stop arm to thereby hold said distributor member at rest, a signal responsive means, a second resilient member, means controlled by said signal responsive means and including said second resilient member for operating said lock arm against the action of said first resilient member to unlock said stop arm and thereby permit rotation of said rotatable member, means for changing the position of said lock arm relative to said signal responsive means to stop said rotatable member in various angular positions and means for controlling said lock arm by said signal responsive means for the various adjusted positions thereof.

JAMES W. LONG. 

